Creighton softball bats come alive in sweep

Creighton freshman Amy Baker went 5-for-5 with three home runs and eight RBI to help the Lady Jays snap a seven-game losing streak and sweep a doubleheader from North Dakota State.

The Bluejays won the opener 8-4 after scoring the first six runs of the game and then hit five home runs and scored 13 runs in the first inning of the second game on their way to a 14-1 final. The sweep stopped Creighton’s longest losing streak in seven years and moved the Bluejays to 16-16 on the season.

Back to Baker’s day. In the first inning of the opener, Michelle Graner drew a two-out walk and scored on Baker’s towering homer to left center field. Baker hit her second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, another two run blast over the left center field fence to give the Jays an 8-2 lead. Baker was 3-for-3 with six RBI in the opener.

In the second game, Creighton exploded for a 13-run first inning. Michelle Koch led off the game with a walk and scored on Renae Sinkler’s league-leading 14th home run of the year. After a pitching change, Michelle Graner welcomed game-one starter Randi Parks (5-6) with a home run. Koch lated unloaded the bases with CU’s first grand slam of the year, a shot over the left field fence and the Jays led 8-0. Baker picked up her second hit of the inning, an opposite field home run to right field. It was her third round homer of the day and her sixth of the season.

In all, five home runs were hit in the first inning of game two that tied a school record for long balls in an inning, set just last April 22 against South Dakota State (in the third inning). Creighton returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to in-state rival Nebraska (21-17) at the CU Sports Complex. The Jays and Huskers are set for a 6 pm first pitch in Omaha.